Egg-box filler.



. T01. EGG BOX FILLER.

APPLICATIO FILED DEC. 28. I916.

Pautented Jan. 15, 1918.

INVENTOR WILLIAM TOZER, OF IVIILNER, BRITISH COLUIEBIA, CANADA.

EGG-BOX FILLER;

Specification of Letters-Patent.

Patented Jan. 15 19th.

Application filed December 28, 1916. Serial No. 139,407.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, YVILLIAM Toznn, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Milner, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Box Fillers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to what is known as an egg-box filler or cell frame, that is, the cardboard cross framing by which eggs are separated from one another and individually protected in the boxes in which they are packed to insure their safety during transport.

As usually made the filler is constructed of longitudinal and transverse strips of cardboard which are half-lapped together on their edges to form the required cellular frame, but unless some locking means is provided to retain the half-lapped strips to gether a filler frame so constructed will dismember while it is being lifted from the box.

Self-locking devices are at present in common use to prevent this, but the self-locking provision cuts up and so weakens the strips that the filler will not endure continued use.

In the invention, which is the subject of this application, the aforementioned defects have been overcome by cutting the longitudinal and transverse strips in a manner that instead of half-lapping them together, the transverse strips are endwise inserted through apertures across the medial line of the longitudinal strips. So constructed the strips are not weakened to the same extent as with half-lap cuts, and a strong self-supporting frame is obtained, the members of which will not separate by movement from either cellular face of the frame.

The particular manner by which this result is attained is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being made to the drawings by which they are accompanied, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 represent detached the longitudinal and transverse strips of which the tiller is constructed, and

Fig. 3, a perspective view showing a portion of the filler as put together.

The cellular framing of the filler is, as is usual, made up of longitudinal. and trans verse strips 2 and 5 of cardboard or the like. Each longitudinal strip 2 is in one piece apertured as at 3 across the middle of its width at the required intervals apart. From each end of each aperture is a slit 4 parallel to the edges of the strip, which slits afford a measure of elasticity to the aperture to permit the passage through them of the transverse strips, the apertures as out being approximately of the same width as the thickness of the cardboard of the strips.

The transverse strips 5 are medially divided along the line 6, being made up of two narrow strips each of which is notched along one edge, as at 7, at distances apart corresponding to the pitch of the apertures 3 of the longitudinal strip 2 and the depth of the notch corresponds to the marginal distance from the ends of the apertures 3 to the edges of the strip 2.

In assembling the filler the two halves of the strip 5 are placed together flatwise as shown in Fig. 3, and are so passed through the apertures 3 of the longitudinal strip 2, which operation is facilitated by the flexibility imparted by the slits lto one side of the aperture. When the strips 2 are so spaced apart on the strips 5 that they are opposite the notches 7 of the latter strips the two halves of 5 are moved apart to bring their unnotched edges together and to pass the notches 7 onto the marginal borders of the longitudinal strips 2 beyond the ends of the apertures 3.

When the unnotched edges of the strips 5 are in alinement they move into the same plane and the sides of the apertures 3, rendered flexible by the slits 4 spring into position to retain the abutting edges of the strips in the same plane and prevent dislodgment therefrom.

The apertured strips 2, owing to the preservation of the marginal borders, are stronger than if they were notched halfway through, as in an ordinary half-lap, and the strips 5 being divided alon the medial line are not sensibly weakened. thereby, and the depth of the notches 7 do not together equal the reduction of width of a half-lap notch.

The filling is simple to manufacture and is much more durable in use than existing fillers.

Having now particularly described my invention, I hereby declare that what I claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is:

An egg-box filler, comprising a cellular structure composed of longitudinal and transverse strips, each longitudinal strip being apertured at intervals across its medial line and each transverse strip composed of two narrow strips each notched along one tudinal strips and thereafter moved apart to edge to a depth corresponding to the marbring the unnotched edges together in the ginal distance outside the apertures of the same plane With the notches passing onto the 1 longitudinal strip and at distances apart marginal borders of the apertured strips.

5 corresponding to the pitch of those apertures, In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

the two narrow strips being passed flatwise together through the apertures of the longi- WILLIAM TOZER.

mm 0! this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. a 

